Sermons
Unbelief Results in Being Broken Off; Belief Results in Being Grafted In
Series: The Message of Romans9The Message of Romans
Unbelief Results in Being Broken Off;
Belief Results in Being Grafted In
Rom. 9-11
Introduction:
1. In the first 8 chapters of Romans we have learned that God is for us.
2. He has acted in Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins.
3. He raised Jesus from the dead and has raised us from the grave of baptism to walk in newness of life.
4. He will not abandon us now that we are new creatures.
a. The Spirit intercedes for us.
b. God causes all things to work for our benefit.
c. Since He did not spare His own Son, He will freely give us all things.
5. Nothing can separate us from His love.
6. So, we overwhelmingly conquer, not on our own power, but by God’s power.
7. Chapters 9-10-11 remind us that God is faithful.
Discussion:
I. The question might be raised, “If God is now including the Gentiles in His kingdom what about the Jews? Is He being unfaithful to the Jews? Is God being unfaithful to Israel?” Not at all! God is both faithful to national Israel (“the children of the flesh”) and to spiritual Israel (“the children of promise”). See 9:1-29.
A. There are two groups identified (9:6-8).
1. “The children of the flesh” designates those who are physical, genetic, ethnic
descendants of Abraham.
2. “The children of the promise” designates the children of faith (9:30), spiritual Israel,
the remnant (9:27). This group includes both Jews and Gentiles who place their trust
in what God has done in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
B. If Gentiles are included is there any advantage to being an Israelite? (9:4-5). Yes!
1. To Israelites belongs the adoption as sons.
2. The glory. I take this to be the glory associated with being God’s people. The glory of
God’s presence was with them.
3. The covenants. I take this to mean they had the covenant associated with Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, the covenant of Sinai, the covenant with David.
4. The giving of the Law.
5. The temple service.
6. The promises.
7. The fathers.
8. They produced the Christ.
C. But Paul had sorrow and grief for them. Why? Because most of them were separated
from Christ, accursed (9:1-3).
1. But it is not as though the word of God had failed(9:6ff).
2. God had used them in a mighty and powerful way to accomplish His plan of
redemption and restoration.
a. It seems they had made the assumption that since God used them in this way that
this meant they were saved (note 9:27).
b. They claimed Abraham as their father, but did not do the deeds of Abraham and so
rejected Jesus (Jn. 8:33ff).
c. They rejected Jesus’ healing of the blind man. Jesus said, “If you were blind, you
would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains” (Jn. 9:41).
d. Instead of seeking forgiveness they trusted in themselves that they were righteous
and viewed others with contempt (Lk. 18:9).
3. Because God, in His sovereignty, had used them to accomplish His purpose did not
mean that they were saved.
4. He had used Pharaoh to accomplish His purpose, but Pharaoh was not saved (v. 17).
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Did God harden it against Pharaoh’s will. No! The
same heat that hardens clay, softens wax. So, it was Pharaoh’s heart that was
determinative.
5. God had been patient with them through the whole process (v. 22) and was now
calling Jews and Gentiles to join the remnant that would be saved, pursuing
righteousness by faith, believing in the One God had sent (27-33) through them.
6. The theology known today as Calvinism sees 9:11ff as teaching that God
UNCONDITIONALLY selected Israel for salvation and UNCONDITIONALLY selects
people today for salvation or damnation. This Calvinistic problem, it seems to me, is
the very thing Paul is trying to offset. If God makes men the way they are, and
then finds fault with them for being what He made them then God is unfair (v. 14).
7. BUT This is not the case. He manifests His mercy to the ones He chooses. Whom does
He choose for salvation? Those who pursue righteousness by faith (30-31). Those
who believe in Jesus (32-33). Jews and Gentiles. Strict forms of Calvinism define faith
to be something “infused into people” against their will. I see faith as
believing/trusting in what God has done, receiving with an open hand what He has
provided.
8. God does not find fault with people because He does or does not use them to
accomplish His purpose. He finds fault with them when they refuse Him. This is made
even clearer in chapter 10. But this is not something new. God has always withheld
blessings from those who are unfaithful. Ex. Those who wandered in the wilderness
(Heb. 3:7-19ff).
II. Paul would have the Jews saved. God would have the Jews saved. But they are a disobedient and obstinate people (10:1-21).
A. Paul wants them saved (1-4).
1. But the only way is through believing in Christ.
2. It is through God’s righteousness.
3. Not their own.
4. People can only be saved in God’s way. It involves subjecting ourselves to His
righteousness.
B. Moses wrote that the man who practices righteousness based on law shall live by that
righteousness. In other words, if you do all the law requires you will live by practicing the
law. BUT the righteousness that is by faith does not require the perfect practice of the law
and since we have already violated the law, the righteousness that is by faith is our only
alternative. The righteousness by faith involves the word preached, confession of Jesus as
Lord, and belief that God raised Him from the dead. This results in salvation. And is
available to all Jews and Greeks alike (5-13).
C. This all involves calling on the name of the Lord (v. 13-15).
1. But not all heed the good news (16).
2. Not all believe it (16).
3. Even though God has made it available (18).
4. He has stretched out His hands to a stubborn and obstinate people (21).
D. This is further evidence of God’s faithfulness.
III. Unbelief results in being broken off while belief results in being grafted in (11:1-36).
A. God has not rejected Israelites, but it is a remnant that is saved by grace (1-6). Not every
Israelite is saved.
B. Those who are chosen are (7-10).
1. Who are these that are chosen? Those of the faith of Abraham (Rom. 4). Those who
place their trust in the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16). Those who believe in
the one whom God sent to pay the penalty for sin (Rom. 5:6ff).
2. Those who are not chosen are those who have eyes to see but do not. Ears to hear but
do not. Those to whom God has stretched out His hand and remain disobedient and
obstinate are not chosen (10:21).
C. But this is not the end of the story.
1. While Gentiles are invited in (11-16)
2. Those who are broken off can be grafted in again, IF they do not continue in their
unbelief (17-24).
3. God shows mercy to all (25-32).
4. This further confirms His faithfulness and demonstrates that salvation is completely
dependent upon what He has done. BUT it is conditioned on our acceptance of what
He has done!
D. The system He has designed is beyond our wildest imagination. It is profound. It is
unfathomable. Do we deserve it? Absolutely not! Do we merit it? A thousand times,
NO! But we can trust His faithfulness and accept it. To Him be the glory forever! (33-36).
Conclusion:
1. The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek for in it the righteousness of God is revealed. Salvation involves a system of faith and it produces faith in individuals (1:16-17).
2. And so, by faith the righteous shall live (1:17c; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38).
